Business

How to Tactfully Handle Egregious Rights Grabs

How to Tactfully Handle Egregious Rights Grabs

by Mike Kelley
It seems near-constantly that we are asked for ‘all rights’ to the photographs, or to own them in ‘perpetuity’ for some reason or another, but a recent e-mail exchange I was a part of presented a perfect opportunity to share one way I ensure my clients have the license they need while at the same time not giving in to overreach and a loss of image rights.When
The Credit Revolution: It’s Time to Give Visualization Artists The Credit They Deserve

The Credit Revolution: It’s Time to Give Visualization Artists The Credit They Deserve

by Mike Kelley
A group of high-profile architecture visualization professionals have banded together to ensure that they are properly credited when their work is disseminated throughout the architecture and media world at large. A problem that many photographers are also familiar with, for years, architectural visualization artists have found their work has gone uncredited when those assets are so vital to getting architecture projects off the ground.Led
Professional Photography in a Small Market: Is It Possible?

Professional Photography in a Small Market: Is It Possible?

by Mike Kelley
Architects, interior designers, developers, and hotels don’t just exist in big cities, and neither do architectural photographers. I personally know photographers everywhere from the biggest cities in the world to remote and desolate areas, and they all have different definitions of success – but one thing is for sure and that is they are all making a healthy living at it, although using different methods and approaches.I
How to Raise Your Rates While Mitigating Risk as a Photographer

How to Raise Your Rates While Mitigating Risk as a Photographer

by Mike Kelley
In order to grow your photography business, you must constantly be re-assessing and re-evaluating how you are doing business. One integral part of your business is how you price your services and capabilities; doing this incorrectly and undervaluing or overvaluing what you provide can be your downfall as a professional.
Why Are Some of the Best Photographers the Least Successful?

Why Are Some of the Best Photographers the Least Successful?

by Usman Dawood
I can comfortably say that I’m not the most talented photographer that I know. I know plenty of photographers that are extremely talented. The kind of work they produce is simply astounding and I’m consistently impressed by them. The issue is that many of these photographers tend not to be as successful than many other photographers I know who may not be as capable.
How To Report And Remove Intellectual Property Theft on Instagram – 2019 Edition

How To Report And Remove Intellectual Property Theft on Instagram – 2019 Edition

by Mike Kelley
You’re having a great day, birds are chirping, sun is shining, life is good… Until you come across someone, or something, using one of your images without even the courtesy of credit. I’ve had enough, and I’m sure if you’re reading this, you’ve also had enough, so I’m going to show you how to get stolen and uncredited content removed from instagram.Before
How to Make More Money with Cost-Sharing

How to Make More Money with Cost-Sharing

by Mike Kelley
Cost-sharing is a common business practice in architecture and interiors photography that allows the photographer to make more money by providing more clients access to project images for less money. It may sound counterintuitive at first, but can be a simple way to create happier clients while significantly improving profit margins with little additional overhead.Why
Photo Credit: The Eternal Struggle Of Credit Where It’s Due

Photo Credit: The Eternal Struggle Of Credit Where It’s Due

by Mike Kelley
The photo credit is an important, yet sometimes elusive, piece of the professional architecture photographer pie. With the speed at which the photography landscape is changing, there are varying standards for getting photo credit in almost every situation.
Landing That One ‘Dream Job’ Won’t Change Your Career

Landing That One ‘Dream Job’ Won’t Change Your Career

by Mike Kelley
I’ve lost count of how many times I thought that one dream job that I finally landed would steer my career in some lofty direction. This, finally, would show those top designers/architects/hotel marketing people that I can handle photographing a museum, church, multi-million dollar mansion, design icon skyscraper, or whatever shiny object was the object of my affection that day.I’ve
One Of The Fastest Ways To Become a Better Photographer

One Of The Fastest Ways To Become a Better Photographer

by Mike Kelley
Sorry, I'm clickbaiting you here. There are a few oft-repeated phrases that will help you to "become a better photographer." These platitudes include things such as placing yourself in more interesting situations, concerning yourself (a true master, of course) with the qualities of light rather than gear, slowing down to make better photographs, speeding up to make better photographs, and on and on. I'm here to tell you that the single most important thing is...
Rendered Images Disqualify Project From Final Stage of Dezeen Awards

Rendered Images Disqualify Project From Final Stage of Dezeen Awards

by Mike Kelley
In the ongoing discussion of renders vs. reality, a very keen-eyed Dezeen viewer noticed that a shortlisted project for the 2019 Dezeen Awards was actually a render, not a photo. As renders improve more and more every day, is this something that will begin to permeate architecture awards and photography contests?The
How To Negotiate Better Prices with Prospective Clients

How To Negotiate Better Prices with Prospective Clients

by Usman Dawood
When I first started as an architectural photographer, one of the things I really struggled with was pricing. This seems to be a common thread for many creatives as it can be very difficult to objectively self-assess your talent, experience, and therefore, value.
Which Tilt-Shift Lens Should I Buy?

Which Tilt-Shift Lens Should I Buy?

by Mike Kelley
This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive and the answer is rather simple. Yes, you should buy them. All of them. No, it doesn’t matter which one you start with. You’ll see soon enough that you need them all.
Staying On Top of Current Architectural Photography Trends with Rob van Esch

Staying On Top of Current Architectural Photography Trends with Rob van Esch

by Mike Kelley
What do clothing, music, cars, houses, and architectural photography have in common? They all go through trends; many of them arguably cyclical in nature. Rob van Esch is an experienced architectural photographer based in Amsterdam who recently created the e-book “Trends in Architectural Photography” which focuses on the recent shifts in the way architecture is photographed.In
Photographing the Broad Museum: Making an Architectural Photography Book, Part Four

Photographing the Broad Museum: Making an Architectural Photography Book, Part Four

by Mike Kelley
One of the most recognizable buildings I had the chance to photograph for my book New Architecture Los Angeles was the Broad Museum, a beautiful project in downtown LA designed by Diller Scofidio+Renfro. As it’s literally one of the most photographed subjects in the entire city, I wanted to make sure I created images that were actually different than everybody else’s.
Can We Use Your Picture(s) in Our Book? Only If You Pay Me

Can We Use Your Picture(s) in Our Book? Only If You Pay Me

by Mike Kelley
It’s an email I get weekly. “My name is John and I work for this massive publisher, and we love your image of that thing. We’re creating a book for our client, and want to use your beautiful image as a spread in the book – can we get permission?”I’m always happy when publishers, corporations, or individuals want to use my images in their books.
Having Trouble Getting Paid? Here’s Some Inspiration and Help

Having Trouble Getting Paid? Here’s Some Inspiration and Help

by Mike Kelley
It’s a struggle that every creative professional deals with all too often, especially early in your career: chasing invoices, non-responsive clients, unauthorized usage of assets, the list goes on. Here I’ve compiled some of my favorite links and videos that will help you light a fire to get paid for your work – and if nothing else, will inspire you to re-write those contracts so you never get yanked around again!1.
How I Deal With Instagram as a Professional Photographer

How I Deal With Instagram as a Professional Photographer

by Mike Kelley
Instagram can be an incredibly powerful tool, but also a very annoying, almost disheartening thorn in your side. While it has great promotional value, the flipside is that it is rife with image theft, copyright infringement, enough vagaries to make your head spin, and the unavoidable irritation that comes with constantly comparing yourself to others.
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